Electromagnetically actuated contactor with start and stop and hold-in switches



May 1, 1951 H. J. HAMMERLY 2,551,373 ELECTROMAGNETICALLY ACTUATEDCONTACTOR WITH START AND STOP AND HOLD-IN SWITCHES Original Filed Aug.2, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l g Q J INVENTOR.

, J 2| (2O (2' +16. Hermon J.Hc1rr 1merly BY 1% n 7 n @5 574;-

(I60 Isa l5 16b ATTORNEY May 1, 1951 H. J. HAMMERLY 2,551,373

ELECTROMAGNETICALLY ACTUATED CONTACTOR WITH START AND STOP AND HOLD-INSWITCHES Original Filed Aug. 2, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 o |27" esINVENTOR. Herman 'J. Hummerly ATTORNEY y 1, 1951 H. J. HAMMERLY2,551,373

ELECTROMAGNETICALLY ACTUATED CONTACTOR WITH START AND STOP AND HOLD-INSWITCHES Original Filed Aug. 2, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

Herman J. Hqrnmerly ATTORNEY May 1, 1951 2551,373

' H. J. HAMMERLY ELECTROMAGNETICALLY ACTUATED CONTACTOR WITH START ANDSTOP AND HOLD-IN SWITCHES Original Filed Aug. 2, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 416b INVENTOR.

LOAD LOAD Herman 'J. Hummerly ATTORNEY Patented May 1, 1951ELECTROMAGNETICALLY ACTUATED CON- TACTOR WITH START AND HOLD-IN SWITCHESHerman J. Hammel'ly, Plainville, Conn., assignor to The TrumbullElectric Manufacturing Company, Plainville, Conn., a corporation ofConnecticut STOP AND Original application August 2, 1947, Serial No.

765,697. Divided and this application September 30, 1948, Serial No.51,976

Claims.

My invention relates to switches of the type of my application Ser. No.463,215 filed October 24, 1942, now Patent No. 2,449,221, and thisapplication is a divisional case from application Ser. No. 765,697 filedAugust 2, 1947, now Patent No. 2,500,635.

One object is to provide in a single device the functions of acontactor, a disconnect switch and a start and stop switch.

Another object is to provide a switch of this character which can beelectromagnetically controlled and manually disabled.

Another object is to combine in a single unitan electromagneticcontactor, a hold-in switch, a thermostatic overload release, a startand stop device and a disabling switch.

In carrying out my invention in its complete form, I provide a supporthaving line and load terminals, an electromagnetically actuated mainswitch with a start-and-stop control, overload relays, a hold-in switchand a manually operable switch for de-energizing the coil of theelectromagnet and for disabling and disconnecting the main switch.

Details of the invention will be understood from the accompanyingdrawings and the following specification.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of switch mechanism embodying one form of myinvention, the

disabling switch being in the on position, parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the plane of line 33 of Fig. 2,with the parts of the main Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view takenon the plane of the line 9--9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing parts of the variousswitch contacts.

Fig. 11 is a diagram of the circuits.

Fig. 12 is a diagram of a fragment of a modi fled circuit.

A support 15 has a conventional resettable overload relay IS with abutton or knob IS on each side and an electromagnet coil l1 betweenthem. The armature core 18 is movable up and down within the coil andcarries a cross piece I9 beneath the lower bar of a yoke 20 which slidesbetween guides 2|, 2|. A plate 22 forms the upper part of yoke 20 andthe side arms of the yoke are slidable through the bottom plate 23 ofthe main support.

An insulating body is mounted on plate 23 and comprises two parts 24 and25 which are secured in place by screws 26. In the passageway betweenthose parts, an insulating block 21 is slidable horizontally by means ofa handle 28 on the crank shaft 29. This shaft has its ends supported inparts 24 and 25 and has an offset portion 29' which engages in a recess21' in the block 21. A throwing spring and bar 30 holds the crank shaftand the block 21 in the off or on position at the right or left as thecase may be.

An insulating carrier 3| is slidable vertically in a guideway in theblock 21 and has lugs 32, 32 projecting from its lower edge to interlockor engage in slots 33 in the side arms of the yoke 20 when in oneposition. A tubular cross bar .34 is mounted on a screw 35 which passesthrough the front part 25 and is screwed into Fig. 5 is a fragmentarysectional view on the A a bracket 36 on the rear part 24. The carrier 3|has a cam-like portion 31 at the left (Figs. 2, 3 and 10) adapted toengage the cross bar 34 of the carrier when the block 21 and the carrier31 are moved manually to the right to disable the switch. Such actionforces the carrier downwardly regardless of'the action of the coil [1.

At the back of the body are the terminals 46, 4! and 42 and at the frontare the main line terminals 43, 44 and 45. Each of these terminals has acontact member 46 which projects into an undercut recess 41 in one ofthe insulating parts of the body such as 25 (see Fig. 8). The block '21has a corresponding number of outwardly extending contacts 48, 4B. Thesecontacts 48 are so located that they are all exposed to view when theblock is at the right and are 3 concealed when the block is at the leftas viewed in Fig. 2. Contacts 46 and 48 are the contacts of thedisabling switch. Terminals 4'5, 44., 45 and the mainline terminals andterminals [6a, "5b and M are the load terminals.

At the inner end of each contact 48 is a contact 50 of the main switch..Thecarrier" 31 has a number of switch members 5!, 51' the: ends of whichengage the respective contacts 50, 50 and .each is mounted in a recess52 in the carrier. and

pressed upwardly by a spring'bts'o that when. the carrier is raised themain circuit switches will be closed provided the block 2'!" is at theleft hand or on position.

A safety switch in the coil circuithas two ter" minals 55 and 56 withcontacts 51'', 51""whi'chs are concealed in an L-shaped recess 58 in thepart 25 (see Figure 2). The block 27 has a contact 59 which connects thecontacts 51, 5'! when the disabling switch: block is in the: closedcircuit position. When the blockis moved toward the right as viewed inFig. 1,. this. safety switch immedi'ately open the coil circuit and.deenergizcs the magnet A start-and-stop switch (Figs. 1, 2, l,- 5, 8 and10) has a contact bar 66' with an offset member 60 loosely mounted. on astud 6|. in a hollow insuiating housing 21". Bar 69 is connected toterminal 44" by a strap 62 and pressed outwardly by spring 631 Theofi'set 6'5 and the opposite end of b'ar'tecoact with contact members613 and 65 respectively supported by body part 25. The spring 63normally presses the right hand end of said bar' 60 away from contactmember 65 and presses the left hand end 68' against contact member 6This bar 60' is manually actuated by pressing the start button 66 or thestop button bias the case may require. Button 56 has a limited motionin' the block 271" so that it can not p'ush the bar Bil" far enough tocause the left" end of 60 to engage contact 64. This left endof lieofcourse may be insulated" in any suitable manner from: contact 64.

The hold-in switch (see Figs. 4', 5-, 8 and 10)" includes a switchmember 10" which is resiliently mounted on one end ofan insulating barii. The other end of bar 11' is carried by the cross piece 22' of thearmature yoke or frame 20 so that switch member it moves up and downwith the armature core: 8 f the magnet. When the coil [IT isenergizedthe switch member 76* contacts and electrically connects the extensions13 and 14' of the stop and-start contacts 64 and 65 re'- spectively.

If we assume that the overload relays are set foroperation and that the:manually operable slide 21 with its satety switch contacts 51, 55*, are:in the on position at the left in. Figs. 1 and 2, the loadcircuits maybe completed by pressing on the start button 66'. This connects switchmember 60 to contact 65 andcompletes a circuit from line terminal 44through the thermal cut-ou-t of the right hand relay, I6, through thecoil I l of the electromagnet, through the thermal cut-out of the lefthand relay IE to the terminal 56, through the safety switch contact 5'1.59, 51 and terminal 55 to the line terminal 43. The magnet is thusenergized and raises it armature which lifts the main switch contactcarrier 3i and closes the main switch and the hold-in switch. Thestarting switch butten 66 is then released. The switch bar 60 whenreleased tilts against contact 64 and thus closes acircuit throughcontact 13;, and switch member so that the coil circuit remains closeduntil opened by an overload, an underload or manual operation.

It will be notedthatthe switch. bar 69 normally engages contact 64 andremains in contact even while the start button 66 is pressed in. As amatter of fact the piece 60 with 60' actually pivots about the contact64 when the start button 66' is actuated. The result is that when buttonWis compressedii'ti completes the circuit between member 60 and the.contact 65 and thus closes the circuit through 73 and 14 and thosecircuits remain. closed even after piece 60 leaves the contact 65, anduntil piece 60' leaves contact 64.

In the case of an overload, the circuit is opened by oneoft'heconventional relays Hi which may be reset by a: push. button I6".

In" case of an underload, the magnet is deenergized' and its armaturewith the carrier 3! and the main switch contacts 5!, 5! drops fromcontacts 48., 4S and breaksthe. main circuits. To open the circuit intheusual manner without disabling itthestop switchbutton- 51' is pressedin.-v This opens the circuit through the ho1d-in switch and thus breaksthe coil circuit.

If it is desired to disable the switch so that it can not be startedautomatically, or if it is desired to obtain access to the main switchcontacts, the block 27 carrying the main contacts ismoved to the rightas viewed in Fig. 1 by turning the handle 28". This. breaks the coilcircuit through the safety switch member 59 and. opens the main loadlines and in fact bar 3 5. forces the; carrier with the main contactsdownward toensure' separation of the main switch contact.

Figure 12' is a diagram showing a simplified. arrangement of the startand stop and hold-in switch members. In this figure the start contact 63- has' a resilient spring portion 64' with which member 68" normallycontacts. MOVing the member 60 into engagement with contact 65 completesthe circuit through the coil I7 and thus closes the circuit throughcontacts I3 and M as the other arrangement. To open the circuit, member60 is moved away from the resilient contact 64 which breaks the coilcircuit and deenergizes the switch. In such an arrangement if the startbutton (not shown-)- should become stuck or welded the circuit can beopened b the stop button".

1. The combination of an insulating body having terminals with switchcontacts connected to the respective terminals, an insulating blockmanually movable with respect to said body and having outer switchcontacts adapted to coact with the: respective contacts on the body,said block having other inner contacts constituting the main. contactsand respectively connected. to the outer contacts of the block, acarrier movable in said block; switch members carried. by said carrierfor coacting with the respective main innor contacts of said block, amagnet coiland armature for actuating said carrier to close circuitsthrough: the main contacts when. said coil isenerg'ized, a hold-inswitch having a member carried by said carrier and a start-and-stopswitch having contacts connected to the hold-inswitch.

2-.. The combination of an insulating body, an electromagnet having amovable armature member, a common support for said. body and saidelectromagnet, a start-and-stop switch having stationary contacts and amovable contact mem-- ber supported by said body and a hold-in switchhaving stationary contacts carried by said body and a movable contactmember, conducting straps connecting the respective stationary contactsor" the start-and-stop switch and the holdin switch, means for manuallyactuating the contact member of the start and stop switch in a directionat right angles to the movement of said armature, and means ofconnection between the armature and the contact member of the hold-inswitch to close a circuit through said coil when the magnet isenergized.

3. The combination of an insulating body, an electromagnet having amovable armature member, a common support for said body and saidelectromagnet, a start-and-stop switch having stationary contacts and amanually operable movable contact member supported by said body and ahold-in switch havin stationary contacts carried by said body and amovable contact member, conducting straps connecting the respectivestationary contacts of the start-and-stop switch and the hold-in switch,means for manually actuating the contact member of the start-and-stopswitch in a direction at right angles to the movement or" said armature,means of connection between the armature and the contact member of thehold-in switch to close a circuit through said coil when the magnet isenergized and a main switch having a movable member actuated by saidarmature.

4. In a magnetic contactor, a back plate, an insulating body secured tothe upper part of the back plate, an electromagnet carried by the lowerpart of the back plate and having a coil with a vertically movablearmature, a yoke carried by said armature, a start-and-stop switchcarried by the body at the front thereof and havlIlg contacts in frontof said yoke and a tilting switch member for opening and closing acircuit through said magnetic coil, a hold-in switch having a-movablecontact member carried by said yoke and stationary contacts, andconductors connecting respectively the contacts of the start-and-stopswitch with the contacts of the hold-in switch.

5. A contactor comprising a back plate, an insulating body secured tothe upper part of the back plate, a main switch carried by said body andhaving stationary and movable contact members, an electromagnet carriedby the lower part of the back plate and having a coil with a movablearmature, a yoke carried by said armature, a slide carried by said yoke,said movable contact member being carried by said slide to close acircuit through said main switch when the magnet is energized, astart-and-stop switch carried by the body at the front thereof andhaving contacts in front of said yoke and a movable contact with movablepush buttons for actuating the same and a hold-in switch having amovable contact member carried by said yoke and stationary contactsconnected respectively to the contacts of the start-and-stop switch.

HERMAN J. HAMMERLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,477,834 Leddick Dec. 18, 19231,845,227 Bower Feb. 16, 1932 1,919,979 Gofi July 25, 1933 2,339,750Bartholy Jan. 25, 1944

